A Rare 1946 Rudolph Schindler Home Gets a Breathtaking Makeover in Los Angeles | House Tour

Tucked into a steep hillside in Los Angeles, the Kallis Residence is a striking example of Schindler’s mastery of site-sensitive design. Created in 1946 for artist and film art director Mischa Kallis, the home embraces the contours of the slope with a dynamic composition of overlapping volumes and carefully placed terraces. After purchasing the home in 2017, homeowners John Gillespie and Susan Orlean embarked on a meticulous, multi-year restoration. Having previously lived in another Schindler-designed residence nearby, they understood the potential hidden beneath years of wear and neglect—and were committed to bringing the home back to its original brilliance. Originally conceived as two distinct structures—a modest one-bedroom residence and a separate two-bedroom studio—the design cleverly linked these spaces via an outdoor terrace that was later enclosed, creating a more cohesive interior environment.Schindler’s signature architectural language—bold geometric forms, extensive glazing, and built-in furnishings—gives the house its sculptural and expressive quality. One of its most distinctive features is a vertical wood-slat screen that runs along the downslope façade, simultaneously acting as a privacy element and a subtle way to integrate the home into the natural landscape. In the 1960s, the home was acquired by members of Kallis’s extended family, William and Jacqueline Sharlin. Working with architect Josef Van der Kar, a colleague of Schindler’s, they updated and unified the residence, blending the original two wings into a more fluid living space. Recognized as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, the Kallis-Sharlin Residence is a powerful reminder of Schindler’s legacy. It reflects his deep commitment to designing for both the landscape and the individual—a philosophy that helped shape the Southern California modernist movement. Film - Mick Aure @miccck Producer - Elias Tebache @socalarchitecture Music - Deep Al Brindle @DeepAlBrindle Photography - @OpenSpaceSeries Special Thanks to John Gillespie & Susan Orlean @susanorlean @john.gillespie.142 Do you have a home that you believe could fit in our series? Please send us an email to connect. https://openspaceseries.com/contact If you have a reputable company or organization and would like to sponsor our channel, click the link below: https://openspaceseries.com/contact